Extra teaching, often tailored to individual needs, aimed at helping students make up deficiencies in knowledge or skills, especially those needed for developing more advanced skills. It is generally short-term additional instruction for students who are otherwise expected to be able to handle coursework in regular classes, as opposed to special education, which is for handicapped students who are expected to need longer-term help. Remedial instruction overlaps with compensatory education, which attempts to make up deficiencies caused by a student’s special circumstances, such as being socioeconomically disadvantaged.